Goal Setting
Module 5: Make it Happen

Welcome back to The Ultimate Goal Setting Guide.

You’ve got this far because you’ve taken yourself seriously and that belief will go a long way to making your Goal happen. It’s not all going to be plain sailing though – as you progress, you may came across obstacles, but don’t lose faith.

Anything which is a challenge will eventually be a source of power for you.

Part One

Mother Nature presents many obstacles, but there is always a purpose. When a newly hatched chicken pecks its way out of its egg shell or a moth struggles out of its cocoon, it is getting stronger to ensure its survival. If you were to cut open the cocoon to help it out, it wouldn’t live long as its wings would lack the strength to fly.

Overcoming obstacles

By working to overcome any challenges, you are working on your Goal. Heather Mills was a model with a bright future when one day a motorcycle hit her as she was crossing the road. She nearly died in the terrible accident, and had to have her leg amputated. Initially devastated that her glamorous life would suddenly be taken from her, she nonetheless decided to turn around what had happened to her advantage.

Knowing there would be interest in her story, she charged the press thousands for interviews, not for her own benefit, but because her aim was to set up charities to help other disabled people. She went on to do incredible charity work distributing artificial limbs to war and landmine victims, and evenutally married to ex-Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney- though that may not have ended so well!

Whatever your opinion of her, Heather made it happen because she didn’t allow even the most brutal of obstacles the right to take over.

Part Two

Stay on course

Obstacles and setbacks will crop up, but keep positive and maintain your enthusiasm, even if you have to go back and repeat some of the steps. All that matters is that you are doing things to get you closer to your Goal. If your goal is to wear a pair of jeans in a lower size and you end up over-eating at a party, then how do you make it happen? You do what a pilot does when he’s steering a plane, you direct back onto the right course for your destination.

Being able to steer a course around obstacles, whether you create them yourself or others put them in your way, comes easily and naturally when you learn to be flexible and seek constant improvements. Remember, you are the engineer of your goal. You have the power to redesign the route to take you to your goal if necessary.

Part Three

Avoid distractions

You will succeed in making it happen if you refuse to give up. You will succeed in making it happen if you don’t rely on other people’s opinions or approval. If there are times when you feel that you’re not progressing, ask yourself if you still desire what you are working towards. If you do, then see if there is something else that needs your attention first before you can progress to the next level.

It might actually be something that is easy to organise, and your best tool in making it happen is sharp awareness, a tool that you polished in Week 3 when you focused on yourself. Through awareness you avoid wasting time on distractions. Ask yourself, ‘Is this the best use of my time right now?’ and do what is best. This helps you to prioritise things on your ‘to do’ list. Once you are aware and ready, opportunities come up all the time because you’ll be looking out for them.

Part Four

Steer clear of the Goal Poppers!

Ever been to a party and met those people who complain about the food, music and drinks? The Party Poppers! I usually keep away from them. Similarly, in order to truly make something happen, which is very dear and special and important to you, you must also protect your goal from ‘Goal Poppers’.

Surprisingly, these ‘Goal Poppers’ might be right there under your nose, people who are friends, neighbours, work colleagues. Anyone who doesn’t share your enthusiasm for your Goal or care whether you achieve it will inadvertently try to ‘pop’ it. So spend time with people who will nurture your dream and energise you, and don’t discuss it with those who will sabotage it. Even those you love and who love you may not understand why you have this Goal.

Remember it’s your Goal, and if you protect it and work on it you can make it happen.

Action!

Actions of the Week

1. Arrange a night in or out with friends who inspire you

Celebrate living a life where you use your limitless power to make goals happen. Share your inspirations and ideas with each other.

2. Choose a day this week and live and react as though you had achieved your goal.

For example if you want a new partner, spend the day behaving the way you would if you had a new partner, this might mean taking extra effort with your appearance, feeling happier and unbothered by office politics, perhaps cooking a special meal that evening. Live as much of it as you can, to prove that you do want it and deserve it, for example, if your goal is to drive a sports car, when you get into your car, drive with the smile and confidence you’d have if you were in that cool sports car. Enjoy it!

3. Think ahead into the future.

Imagine you have achieved your Goal. See yourself in your success feeling happy and fulfilled. Now, imagine someone asking you how you made it happen. Write down what you’d say to them, beginning with, ‘I made it happen by…’

4. Make a list of all the things that must still happen for you to achieve your Goal, phone a supporting friend and discuss workable solutions to these.

5. Get your diary and schedule in time to take action on these things and celebrate when you’ve taken some positive action.

Well done, you are nearly there. Make time to do all the Actions, because next week you will be claiming your dream!